Posts by Shelley

This is a winner circle picture from a long time ago. It was early in my training career in the year 1980. If you look closely at the winner circle picture, you’ll find that the only one smiling was Tom Chapman, who had ridden Classy Alta to an easy win. There’s a reason for the somber faces: Classy had just been claimed from us for $6,500. The man standing next to me is Newel Taylor, a good friend and the reason that we had claimed the filly. When we claimed her, she was as high-strung as they come. Very thin,…

With so many posts on Facebook lamenting the end of an era after the closing of Golden Gate Fields, I was feeling nostalgic. Next thing I know, I’m on the stepladder pulling a trunk full of old Win pictures from storage. You may ask, what do I call old? Would fifty years plus surprise you? There are pictures from all over the place. California, both North and South, the California Fairs, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, and New York. From time to time, I’ll be sharing some of these here, especially the ones that bring back strong memories that include a…

Allow me to indulge in a bit of shameless self-promotion. With the overwhelming support I've received for my short stories, I'm excited to offer you a glimpse into the world of my latest novel, the intriguingly titled Labyrinth of Ruin. As the saying goes, 'Write what you know.' This advice resonated with me, and I decided to infuse my novel with the authenticity of my personal experiences. Having dedicated over two decades to the horseracing industry, starting from the humblest of beginnings and culminating in the prestigious Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown, I've genuinely earned my stripes. With that…

Thank you for reading part one of Tyler's Folly from the Stories from the Backside. Here's part two. Race day has arrived. What's in store for Emma? Tyler's Folly - Part Two All the paddock schooling Tyler had done with Folly seemed to have paid off. While the valet helped Emma saddle the colt for the Futurity, the ordinarily fractious horse stood quiet and alert. However, on the track next to the lead pony, Folly made up for his previous good behavior with an embarrassing display of bad manners. Worse, she could see Tyler’s Folly was already hot as the…

As promised, here's another story from the backside. Like Sam’s Stories, this entry was part of a book of short stories I published in 2014 titled For Want of a Horse. All the stories within the book were based either on personal experience or fictionalized versions of life events. The book is currently unavailable, but I’m considering reissuing it in ebook form. I’ll let you know. While Tyler’s Folly is fiction, my experience with horses with prominent personalities is reflected within the telling. And then there’s the folly of taking a loan against the equity in your house to buy…

While I planned on sharing another short story for this week’s ‘My Thoughts’ entry, I came across a cartoon by author Shami Stovall on my Facebook feed, and to say that I felt a deep connection to its subject matter would be an understatement. For those avid readers among us, I’m sure you’re pretty familiar with the one thing you will likely find at the end of any book besides The End. Invariably, you’ll come across a heartfelt request from the author for a review or rating. The majority of us barely notice it and move on. However, as I…

Last week's post garnered a lot of interest, and I thank you. Tim Bellasis's memory of the Cal Expo Flood of 1989 made for a gripping short story I enjoyed writing. It was suggested that there are a vast number of memories among the horsemen and women who work with our beloved racehorses that should be shared and not allowed to be lost to the changing times. Remember, a good story is a gift you get to give over and over again, and each time, you get to relive the moment yourself. If any of you have a memory about…

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to chat with Tim Bellasis, a C.T.T. Board member and a long-time friend who I made while training horses in Northern California. As a well-established trainer, Tim was a font of great stories about life on the backside. The following short story came into being from one such memory. And proof that heroes do live amongst us. Blanche It didn't start with a rushing wall of water, nor was it a trickle. Initially insidious, the water went unnoticed as it crept across the parking lot, filled the gutters to overflow, and quenched…